Friday, September 25, 2015

Assembly Committee Schedules Public Hearing on AJR5/SJR4!

Assembly Joint Resolution 5Senate Joint Resolution 4, which deletes the state treasurer from the state constitution and makes the lieutenant governor a member of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, appears to be on the legislative fast-track.  The Assembly Committee on State Affairs and  Government Operations will hold a public hearing on the measure Wednesday, September 30 at 1 p.m. Earlier this week, the Senate Committee on Labor and Government Relations passed the bill on a party-line vote of 3-2, and it can now be voted on by the full Senate.

Please contact your state representative and state senator to let them know why WEMTA is concerned about this proposal. 

WEMTA believes there are potential unintended consequences of AJR5/ SJR 4 that could put school library funding at risk.  We believe that replacing the State Treasurer with the Lieutenant Governor on the BCPL jeopardizes our founding fathers’ commitment to maintaining a constitutionally protected form of school library funding. As envisioned by our founding fathers, current BCPL Commissioners do not play a leading role in K-12 school funding or the state budget process—this makes them ideal custodians of the Common School Fund and helps protect the integrity of the fund. 

WEMTA is concerned that a complicated process to change the state constitution may not save as much money as projected, will require a lengthy legislative and election process, and may have unintended consequences affecting the future performance of the fund.  


Since AJR 5/SJR 4 is a constitutional amendment, it must be passed by both houses of the Legislature in two consecutive legislative sessions and approved by voters in a statewide referendum. 

HOW DO I CONTACT MY LEGISLATOR?
The first step in contacting your legislator is knowing who your legislator is. The easiest way to do this is the tool found on the Legislature’s home page, at http://legis.wisconsin.gov. In the right-hand side of that page is a link that says Find My Legislators!  Type your address in the box below that link to get the names of your state representative and senator.

Phone.  You may leave a message for your legislator’s Capitol office or indicate your position on legislation through the toll free Legislative Hotline, at 1-800-362-9472.·         


E-mail. The e-mail addresses of members of the Wisconsin Legislature all have the same format. For members of the Assembly, the form is Rep.Jones@legis.wisconsin.gov; for members of the Senate, the form is Sen.Adams@legis.wisconsin.gov.  

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Senate Committee Passes SJR4

The Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform passed Senate Joint Resolution 4, which deletes the state treasurer from the constitution, today on a party-line vote of 3-2.  The next step is for the full Senate to vote on SJR 4. 

If you haven't done so already, please contact your state senator to let them know why WEMTA is concerned about this proposal. 


HOW DO I CONTACT MY LEGISLATOR?

The first step in contacting your legislator is knowing who your legislator is. The easiest way to do this is the tool found on the Legislature’s home page, at http://legis.wisconsin.gov. In the right-hand side of that page is a link that says Find My Legislators!  Type your address in the box below that link to get the names of your state representative and senator.

·  Phone.  You may leave a message for your legislator’s Capitol office or indicate your position on legislation through the toll free Legislative Hotline, at 1-800-362-9472.
·  E-mail. The e-mail addresses of members of the Wisconsin Legislature all have the same format. For members of the Assembly, the form is Rep.Jones@legis.wisconsin.gov; for members of the Senate, the form is Sen.Adams@legis.wisconsin.gov.
  

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

WEMTA Alert: Contact your State Senator Regarding SJR4!

The Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform will vote by paper ballot on SJR 4 this week, which deletes the state treasurer from the state constitution. In addition,  SJR 4 replaces the treasurer with  the lieutenant governor on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.  Since the Committee is voting on the measure using a paper ballot, they will not hold a formal Committee meeting to cast their votes publicly. The deadline for responding to the paper ballot is 12:30 P.M. on Thursday, September 24.


Please consider contacting your State Senator before Thursday, especially if they serve on the Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform,  to let them know why WEMTA is concerned about SJR 4. 

WEMTA believes there are potential unintended consequences of SJR 4 that could put school library funding at risk.  We believe that replacing the State Treasurer with the Lieutenant Governor on the BCPL jeopardizes our founding fathers’ commitment to maintaining a constitutionally protected form of school library funding. As envisioned by our founding fathers, current BCPL Commissioners do not play a leading role in K-12 school funding or the state budget process—this makes them ideal custodians of the Common School Fund and helps protect the integrity of the fund. 

WEMTA is concerned that a complicated process to change the state constitution may not save as much money as projected, will require a lengthy legislative and election process, and may have unintended consequences affecting the future performance of the fund.  

If the Committee approves the measure, it will be sent to the full Senate for approval.


HOW DO I CONTACT MY LEGISLATOR?
The first step in contacting your legislator is knowing who your legislator is. The easiest way to do this is the tool found on the Legislature’s home page, athttp://legis.wisconsin.gov. In the right-hand side of that page is a link that says Find My Legislators!  Type your address in the box below that link to get the names of your state representative and senator.

·  Phone.  You may leave a message for your legislator’s Capitol office or indicate your position on legislation through the toll free Legislative Hotline, at 1-800-362-9472.
·  E-mail. The e-mail addresses of members of the Wisconsin Legislature all have the same format. For members of the Assembly, the form is Rep.Jones@legis.wisconsin.gov; for members of the Senate, the form is Sen.Adams@legis.wisconsin.gov.


Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform Members:
Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) 
Senator Bob Wirch (D-Kenosha)
Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee)


Monday, September 14, 2015

State Representative Authors Resolution to Make State Superintendent Appointed Position

State Representative Joe Sanfelippo (R-New Berlin) announced today that he has authored a resolution to make the state superintendent a political appointee instead of an elected official.

Under Sanfelippo's proposal, the state superintendent would be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. He argues the change would result in the most qualified candidate receiving the job and allow the Legislature to hold the position accountable for education outcomes.

“For too many years DPI has been able to deflect blame for its failures and rebuff desperately needed reforms by hiding behind the fact that its superintendent is an elected official,” said Sanfelippo in a press statement. “The state’s school system needs to be improved and the only way we can do that is by holding DPI more accountable, and with an appointed superintendent, we can do exactly that.”

Wisconsin voters currently elect a state superintendent every four years.



Thursday, September 10, 2015

ALERT: Public Hearing Scheduled on Deleting State Treasurer's Office!

The Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform will hold a public hearing on Senate Joint Resolution 4 next Tuesday, September 15. SJR 4 deletes the state treasurer’s office from the state constitution and makes the lieutenant governor a member of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.

WEMTA has opposed past attempts to add the State Superintendent and the Lieutenant Governor to the BCPL because we believe it jeopardizes our founding fathers’ commitment to maintaining a constitutionally protected form of school library funding. The current BCPL Commissioners do not play a leading role in K-12 school funding or the state budget process—this makes them ideal custodians of the Common School Fund and helps protect the integrity of the fund.

Senate Labor and Government Reform, 10 am, Tue, Sep 15, 300-SE
Hearing on:
SJR-04 State Treasurer (Gudex, Richard (R)) Deleting from the constitution the office of state treasurer (first consideration).